Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart

photophoto
Home > About SHA > SHA at a Glance > Points of Pride

Points of Pride

Fast Facts 2011-12

  • 400 students come to SHA from 26 school districts 
  • Faculty/student ratio:  1:10
  • Number of  Sisters of St. Francis:  FT 3   PT  3
  • Our students come from 26 school districts and from more than 44 middle and elementary schools from throughout Western New York. In the Class of 2015, 30% of the students are from public school, 8% have a sister who attends SHA, and 16% have a mother, sister or grandmother who is a SHA alumna.

Notable Accomplishments

  • The 90 members of the Class of 2011 were awarded more than $14.4 million in academic scholarships and awards to some of the top colleges and universities across the country.
  • Sacred Heart is ranked the #2 high school overall in Western New York (out of 133). Our percentage of students graduating with Advanced Designation Diplomas (88%) places SHA in the top 2% of all ranked schools. In addition, SHA's Regents passing rates in 2011 in the following subjects were 100%: English, US History and Government, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, French, and Spanish. Nearly 98% of all Regents exams taken were passed and more than 56% were at the "mastery" level.
  • Our rigorous college preparatory curriculum includes twelve Advanced Placement courses, Regents and honors classes, college level courses (for college credit), an online class, and a range of electives in technology, music, fine art, dance and Mandarin Chinese (new this year). Over 63% of the Class of 2011 took one or more AP classes. Students can also take courses through the Online School for Girls.
  •  Sacred Heart’s Mock Trial team won the 2010-11 Erie County Bar Association Mock Trial Tournament and then went on to win the Western District Tournament. Representing Western New York, Sacred Heart was one of only six teams to compete in the New York State Mock Trial Championship.
  • Ron Stepien was the 2010-11 recipient of the Western New York Section of the American Chemical Society's Outstanding High School Science Teacher of the Year Award. Mr. Stepien teaches Chemistry and AP Chemistry and assists with the JV and Varsity Volleyball teams.
  • A new Seminar class provides instruction at each grade level in study skills (9th grade), PSAT preparation and critical thinking (10th grade), standardized test taking strategies and ACT and SAT preparation (11th grade), and individualized college guidance including the application process with Naviance, our new online service (12th grade). In addition, SHA is part of a pilot program statewide for a Safe Dating course which will be offered to all 9th graders.
  • Leadership Studies is included at each grade level and includes instruction and hands on learning in essential leadership skills, communication and presentation activities, interviewing, and developing and implementing a leadership project.
  • Our curriculum continues to be strengthened. Recent initiatives include additional instructional time in all science courses and enhanced math offerings which allow all of our students the opportunity to graduate with Advanced Designation Regents diplomas. Our mastery rate on science Regents examinations had double digit increases ranging from 11% to 22% in each of the sciences from 2009-2010 to 2010-2011.
  • Twenty-one seniors were a part of SHA’s selective Career Internship Program in 2010-11. Placements included Roswell Park Cancer Institute Department of Genetic Counseling, Anderson Gallery, Independent Health Foundation, Compass House, Amherst Middle School, and the Town of Amherst Department of Engineering. This selective program prepares our students for real life work experience.
  • Technology improvements continue to be an annual priority. Last year we introduced PowerSchool’s Parent Portal, which gives families a way to connect electronically and access information about their daughters including grades, assignments, and attendance. We also replaced all of our library laptops with new HP Mini 5101s.
  • SHA offers 22 team and club level sports to ensure student involvement and physical well-being. During 2010-11, basketball, volleyball, and track were the Monsignor Martin League champions in their respective sports. New offerings include ice hockey, field hockey, and sailing. In addition, physical education classes have units in self-defense, yoga, and cardiovascular wellness.
  • Students can participate in a wide variety of clubs including Amnesty International, Cooking for a Cause, Life Skills, Diversity Club, Flash Mob Club, Drill Team, Yoga Club, Walking Club, and Ski Club (sponsored by St. Joe’s).
  • The Learning Center at Sacred Heart Academy (TLC) is run by Dr. Qian (Anna) Sun and offers academic support to students of all grades.  Staffed by SHA faculty, TLC supports and reinforces all learning styles in a comfortable, nurturing environment.  Tutoring is available in every academic area.  Assistance with writing, organization, presentation skills, note-taking, and study skills is also available to help students transition to college preparatory coursework.
  • Footprints Service Program: A school wide program that builds a life-long sense of commitment to serving others. In 2010-11, our students donated nearly 18,000 hours of their time to volunteer, an average of 45 hours per student. The annual Day of SHAring is our unique school-wide day of service during which 500 plus members of the school community serve at 50 sites throughout Western New York volunteering thousands of hours.
  • The Chamber Singers, SHA's select choir, earned a Silver rating, level six at the 2011 NYSSMA festival. The choir toured New York City in April and sang two performances in Manhattan.

Facilities

  • Classes are housed in a beautiful, architecturally significant four-story main building, built in 1928.
  • Students enjoy a completely renovated Library/Media Center with rooms for distance learning, small group instruction, and study.  Laptops and wireless Internet access are available for student use, along with a fine print collection.
  • Two state-of-the-art science laboratories serve SHA’s Biology/Chemistry and Earth Science/Physics classes.
  • The computer lab features a new computer network with 1,000 mb processing speeds, a wireless Internet network, and computers for student use, including 21 newly purchased Hewlett Packard computers.  Additional technology includes classroom SmartBoards to fully integrate curriculum with advanced technology and information.
  • Clare Hall, adjacent to the main building, provides offices for SHA’s Development Staff.
  • The Chapel, adorned by a beautiful stained glass window of the Sacred Heart, is a place of quiet reflection to which students may retreat for prayer and meditation.
  • The Learning Center is a fully dedicated and equipped space to provide faculty and peer tutoring to all students requesting academic assistance.
  • The SHA auditorium seats 700 for Academy assemblies, liturgies, theatrical productions, and other events.
  • SHA Hall is a complete workout center for physical education classes with treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes, Nautilus machines, and free weights.
  • The fully equipped SHA gymnasium is used for physical education classes and for athletic team practice and competitions.  In addition, SHA partners with several local schools and townships to obtain additional practice facilities for its athletic teams, including Clearfield Tennis Courts, Grover Cleveland Golf Course, the Pepsi Center, Thruway Lanes, University at Buffalo Rotary Field, and Villa Maria Athletic Center. 
  • The SHA cafeteria has seating for 200, with dining service provided by Personal Touch.